20 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



like the Jays of Algeria, Asia Minor, and the Caucasus, and 

 some with uniform vinous-coloured heads, the latter being con- 

 fined to the Himalayas, China and Formosa. 



THE COMMON JAY, GARRULUS GLANDARIUS. 



(Plate II.) 



Corvus glandarius, Linn., S. N., i., p. 156 (1766). 

 Garralus glandarius^ Macg., Br. B., i., p. 576(1837); Dresser, 

 B. Eur., iv., p. 481, pi. 254(1873) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. 

 Mus., iii., p. 93 (1877) ; Newt. ed. Yarr., ii., p. 323 (1878) ; 

 Seeb., Hist. Br. B., i., p. 569 (1883); B. O. U. List Br. 

 B., p. 67 (1883); Saunders, Man., p. 225 (1889); 

 Lilford, Col. Fig. Brit. B., pt. x. (1889). 



Adult Male. General colour vinaceous ; throat white ; 

 under surface pale vinaceous ; vent and under tail-coverts 

 white ; crown of head streaked with black ; forehead whitish 

 with black streaks ; bastard-wing and primary coverts barred 

 with black and cobalt-blue ; bill black. Total length, 13 inches ; 

 culmen, 1*15 ; wings, 7-3 ; tail, 6 '6 ; tarsus, 17. 



Sexes alike. 



Young. Duller in plumage than the adults, and the feathers 

 more fluffy in texture. 



Range in Great Britain. Apparently diminishing in num- 

 bers, owing to systematic persecution on account of its depre- 

 dations in game preserves, the Jay is still to be found in 

 woodland districts, and is common in some places. In Ireland 

 it is now only found in the south and east, but appears to be 

 spreading northward in Scotland, occurring as far as Inverness- 

 shire. Occasionally large numbers migrate to our shores, and 

 they have been observed by Mr. Gatke to pass over Heligoland 

 in some seasons in vast quantities. 



Range outside the British Islands. Throughout the greater 

 part of Europe, but replaced in North-eastern Africa by an 

 allied form ( Garrulus minor], and in South-eastern Europe and 

 Siberia by other species. Its highest northern range in Russia 

 is, according to Mr. Seebohm, about lat. 63, whence it 

 extends to the valley of the Volga. In Scandinavia it occurs 

 up to the Arctic Circle. 



